Magic Blood Warrior

Chapter 5 Change

Half a Month Later - Evening, Dining Hall of Viscount Fergus Castle

Light spilled down from a massive, lotus-shaped crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling. A single fixture illuminated the spacious dining hall as brightly as midday. This was no simple oil lamp like the one in Gray’s room; it was a rune-inscribed lamp, crafted by Runesmiths. Upon closer inspection, intricate, twisting runes encircled the center of the crystal lotus. Some resembled reclining beasts, others ritualistic gestures, upright serpents… while many were simply bizarre, unrecognizable lines. Exorbitantly expensive, even a Viscount’s coffers couldn’t afford these lamps for every room. They graced only the most important spaces: the banquet hall, the dining hall, the council chamber…

Beneath the luminous glow, seven people sat around a long, polished dining table.

At the head sat a middle-aged man with blond hair. He wore a long coat with two rows of buttons down the front and a ruff collar at his neck. A touch of golden stubble adorned his jaw, and his piercing blue eyes held an innate air of authority. This was Emerson Fergus, Viscount and master of the castle.

Opposite him sat a woman with chestnut hair. She wore a low-cut black gauze gown, a large sapphire necklace resting at her throat, radiating an aura of refined elegance. Though her face showed signs of age, traces of her youthful beauty remained. Yet, her thin lips gave an impression of sharpness. This was Milan Harris, the Viscountess, originally from a Baron’s family.

To the Viscount’s right sat three young people: two young men and a young woman. In order: Bernal Fergus (the body’s eldest brother), Ellis Fergus (the second brother), and Caroline Fergus (the third sister). The brothers shared the Viscount’s blond hair and blue eyes. Caroline inherited his blue eyes but had her mother’s hair color. Slightly older than Gray, she was tall with a high-bridged nose, bearing the fine genetic traits of both parents.

To the Viscount’s left sat Gray and his sister, Sarah Fergus. Both had inherited their black hair from their melancholic, deceased mother and blue eyes from the Viscount.

Ting, ting!

The soft clink of a knife against a fine white porcelain plate sounded. Everyone else had finished their meal. Only Gray was still eating – his second serving of dinner. This was his first time dining in the hall since his injury.

Watching Gray consume his second portion elicited varied reactions. Viscount Fergus, the Viscountess, and Bernal remained impassive; they had already learned from servants about Gray’s drastically increased appetite in recent days, requiring double portions per meal. Others, however, stared in surprise, like Caroline. She largely treated her father’s b*st*rd children with cold indifference, as they posed no threat to her position.

Ting.

Gray finally set his knife and fork neatly on his plate. He took the napkin offered by a nearby maid, wiped his lips and hands, and spoke with a hint of awkwardness. "Apologies, Father, Madame. My appetite has... increased quite suddenly lately."

He had considered eating only one portion and having Barbara fetch another later in his room. But realizing his increased consumption over the past days was likely already known to the Viscount, he chose not to hide it.

"It's of no consequence," the Viscount stated neutrally.

Viscountess Milan offered a perfectly composed smile, her tone pleasant. "You're at an age for growth spurts. Eating well is important." Her expression was flawlessly amiable, showing no trace of distance. Gray knew it was a facade. The arrival of himself and Sarah, children of the Viscount’s mistress, could hardly please her. And if the assassination attempt truly originated from within this family, her influence, possibly through her own family’s resources to bypass the Viscount’s notice, was likely involved.

"How fares your recovery?" the Viscount inquired next.

"Thank you for your concern, Father. I'm almost fully recovered," Gray replied, injecting a note of "gratitude" into his voice. He inwardly cringed at his own performance. The real Gray, the one who felt filial piety, was gone. He was merely acting to avoid suspicion. The Viscount’s protection was his lifeline against the hidden assassin. Lose that shield, and death would likely follow swiftly. He also harbored no illusions about the Viscount’s affection. The man seemed to value utility over sentiment. For sixteen years, he had largely ignored Gray and Sarah, their mother dying of melancholy partly due to his neglect. Only when Gray displayed exceptional Blood Warrior talent did he suddenly "discover" paternal concern and bring them to the castle. His favor was contingent on Gray’s perceived value.

"Good." The Viscount seemed satisfied with Gray's response, a faint smile touching his lips. "You may seek guidance in your training from your elder brother Bernal. He is now a mid-rank Blood Warrior."

"I will, Father," Gray answered "respectfully." He then turned to Bernal. "I may trouble you for advice then, Brother Bernal."

"Any time," Bernal replied, his smile sunny and welcoming.

Beside him, Ellis, mindful of the Viscount's presence, kept his usual look of disdain towards Gray carefully hidden, silently observing this charade of fraternity. While he disliked Gray, he knew Bernal’s hatred and disgust ran even deeper.

The post-dinner conversation ended shortly after. After exchanging a brief word with Sarah, Gray returned to his bedroom. Lying back on the soft bed, his thoughts churned.

"My body is definitely undergoing some kind of metamorphosis..."

Half a month had passed since consuming the Bloodbeast blood. In that time, his appetite had skyrocketed. Each meal required double the normal portion just to feel remotely satisfied. If not for fear of appearing too abnormal, he would have eaten triple portions. But after careful thought, he restrained himself. Doubling his intake could be explained away as a growth spurt; tripling it would seem deeply unnatural.

The results of this massive consumption were undeniable. His physical capabilities increased at a perceptible rate every single day. After half a month, he could now complete the second stance during his second sequence of the Blood Art.

"And this rapid growth clearly isn't solely due to practicing the Blood Art."

To test the connection, he had deliberately skipped training for an entire day. When he resumed the next day, he still felt the same significant improvement in his physique, comparable to the days he had trained. Clearly, the enhancement wasn't primarily fueled by the Blood Art practice. It stemmed from an unknown "metamorphosis."

"What kind of metamorphosis is this? What level of strength will it ultimately grant me?"

Gray was almost certain the trigger was the Bloodbeast blood consumed weeks ago. But the nature of the internal transformation and its ultimate potential remained a mystery. Scouring the original Gray’s memories yielded nothing remotely similar.

"The theory that the original owner's Blood Power isn't gone but merely hidden... I can't completely dismiss it now. Only when I reach lower-rank Blood Warrior status again, and see if the rapid physical growth continues, will I know for sure."

"Also, the original Gray, just a b*st*rd son, had access to very limited knowledge. I need to visit the castle library tomorrow, search for texts on Blood Arts and related phenomena."

Unable to unravel the mystery, Gray shifted his focus to the benefits. "This metamorphosis accelerating my physical growth is unequivocally good news." At this rate, he estimated needing only a little over a month to regain his lower-rank Blood Warrior strength. That would drastically reduce the risk of exposure. The castle inhabitants, including the Viscount, knew little about him beyond his previous achievement, having only interacted for two months. As long as he regained his former level, detection was unlikely. As for Sarah, who knew the original Gray intimately – she was still a child. With his adult intellect and the original Gray's memories, deceiving a young girl shouldn't be beyond him. If it was, he truly would be useless.